Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-16
VERY wARLlKE SIGNS.
Austria vigorously Pushing her Mill.
taFy Preparations ON the Russian
Frontier.

AuDsrHo vs8VrOuS1y FuS0uWX nch Thshs-
tary Preparations ON the Russian
Frontier.
The Ofricle in the St Petersburg Military
Gazette. Of which portion was given in yester-
days STAR, discussing the question OF Russian
railways said: "During the last ten years 1898
kilometres OF railway have been constructed In the
western provinces OF Russia IN the German and
Austrian eastern provinces during the same period
$500 kilometres have been built. Moreover the
area In which Russia has constructed railways Is
twice as large as thatin which her neighbors have
built such lines The Russian railways nowhere
pass outside the defense lines OF the triangle
formed by St Petersburg, Warsaw and odessa.
Our neighbors lines, however, run straight out 10
the Russian frontier 1t is easy TO understand that
they are not constructed for advanced posts, but
map Will sufflce To show that close network OF
railways covers the district along the Russian from
TIER, compared with the insignificant NUMBER o.
railways that Russia can rely on. Not only from
Germany, but from the Austrian frontier, Russian
territory Is menaced with rapid invasion. The
most effective measures against this danger would
be TO extend the Russian railways until they at
tain the proportions Of those OF our neighoors But
Tor this enormous expense time fs required, ana
therefore there is only one cOurSe-to improve our
defenSes and f0rresses and increase the number OF
troops on the frontier, and thereby guard against
surpnse. our neighbors' increased military pre-,
counter measures, which will be gradually exc
cuted. The transfer OF few cavalry regiments
on the Vistula might certainly be made the pre-
charge Russia with warlike intentions. Germany
and Austrian military authorities understand the
defensive character OF this measure. They can
calmly calculate how many corps Russia will
have TO send TO the frontier, While peace Is un-
disturbed SO that after concentrating at any given
point, the forces and means at her disposal might
sufdce to place Russia on q footing Of equality
with her opponents. They can also calculate
the strength OF the forces with which, in the
event OF war, Russia could be rapidly invaded
They can still hope by sudden action to win COM
paratlVey cheap laurelS but high Russian military
Officers, who do not fear the ultimate issue OF q
conflict, even II the whole forces OF the peace
league moved out against Russia, nevertheless
openly recognize that the defense Of Russian terri
tory Is not yet assured, and If the peace league
considers itself justified In developing It's defen-
sive measures SO far as to bring certain Russian
districts under the ranges OF the guns Of its most
advanced forts, Russia has the undoubted right TO
to uphold her honor and maintain the involability
OF her territory" 4
RENEWED EXCITEMENT I'M AUSTRIA.
The above article has excited great attention in
Vienna. In Oficial circles the opinion is expressed
that the article will cause no change in the atti-
tude OF Austria. The government, 1t is believed,
before taking actively responsive measures OF de-
Tense, will wait to see whether Russia continues
ner threatening military preparations. A long In
terview during the week between count KalnOky
and the German ambassador led TO accord between
the two governments on the decision OF the Aus
trian military council The serious character OF
the situation has never been underestimated In
Austrian official circles. The government has
never been unmindful OF the duties which the Ger
man alliance imposes, and in the face OF the Rus
moment been idle. Preparations are complete for
the diSpatch OF refnfOrcementS OF cavalry to Ga
l1cia. The erection or hutS Is now proceeding &C.
lively along the line Of defense.